Conservation // 1 min Read

Preserving River Road

Written by Palmetto Bluff

May 05, 2020

Sitting on the eastern edge of Palmetto Bluff adjacent to the May River and Cooper River lies 130 acres of protected maritime wilderness. Known as River Road Preserve, this massive plot of land was given an additional 122 acres in 2007 as a conservation easement that will be shielded in perpetuity from development.

What is a conservation easement?

The primary goal of a conservation easement is environmental protection. Therefore, a conservation easement is a legal restriction of development and usage of a given property to conserve natural resources. In the case of the River Road Preserve, the purpose is for natural resource protection and to provide a unique series of wilderness trails.

A magical place located beneath the shelter of century-old live oaks, the River Road Preserve includes some of the best maritime forests at the Bluff. It’s also home to several species of plants and wildlife…

  • Habitats: islands, maritime forests, mixed pine hardwoods, pine flat woods, evergreen wetlands, and hardwood bottoms
  • Plants and Trees: sprawling live oak, southern magnolias, eastern red cedar, and cabbage palmettos
  • Wildlife: white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, opossums, raccoons, mink, coyotes, grey fox, and bobcat (bonus: when the tide is up you can see fiddler crabs and redfish)
  • Birds: wood storks, great egrets, snowy egrets, great blue herons, tricolored herons, summer tanagers, and painted bunting

The next time you’re out exploring the Bluff, be sure to take some time and explore the River Road Trail, which incorporates parts of two old plantations, Pettigrew and Moreland.

Real Estate / J. Banks Design Exclusive Furniture Packages for The Grove

Photography from J. Banks Design Luxury interior design firm J. Banks and Palmetto Bluff Builders have collaborated to provide an extensive and beautiful design package for the residents of The Grove, Palmetto Bluff's first neighborhood built-for-sale. With j...

Nov 2023

Food & Wine / Buttermilk Chess Pie with Vanilla Mascarpone Crème Recipe

Indulge in the rich and flavorful Buttermilk Chess Pie with Vanilla Mascarpone Crème by following this delicious recipe from Palmetto Bluff Club’s Executive Pastry Chef, Jae Newby. The Buttermilk Chess Pie Filling combines the perfect blend of ingredients, inc...

Nov 2023

Sporting Life / Meet Palmetto Bluff’s New Equestrian Director: Julien Beaugnon

Longfield Stables at Palmetto Bluff is thrilled to welcome Julien Beaugnon as the new Equestrian Director. With over 30 years of experience as an equestrian instructor, trainer, and manager, Julien’s journey is a testament to his passion, dedication, and stron...

Nov 2023

Conservation / From The Ashes

Story and Photographs by Joel Caldwell I am driving through the predawn dark, trying to find the office of Jay Walea, the longtime Director of the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy. It’s a warm morning in late May, my windows are down, and I’m listening to that pecu...

Nov 2023

Local Character: Chris Apple Director of Golf Club Operations

Where are you from and how did you get here? I saw the job posting through a golf recruiting service at 6am one morning. [laughs] I applied for it and here we are. My wife and I always said if we ever left Nashville, we’d move to the Lowcountry. We love livin...

Nov 2023

Culture / Festive Events At Palmetto Bluff

The Haunting of Palmetto Bluff | October 27  Venture deep into the woods of the Bluff, where echoes of the past are lurking in the shadows. Embark on a spine-chilling journey to explore legends and step beyond the veil of the living and the dead. Will you l...

Oct 2023

Culture / Palmetto Bluff Shines Bright in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The results of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards are in, and Montage Palmetto Bluff, Hilton Head Island, Charleston, and Savannah received numerous accolades and awards highlighting what makes the Lowcountry region a stand out amongst the rest....

Oct 2023

Sporting Life / Common Clay

Photographs by Cameron Wilder Story by Alex Marvar Left to right: Palmetto Bluff residents Cynthia Willet, Nancy Thomas, Donna South, and Michelle Solomon On the bluff’s 120-acre sporting clays course, four friends find a winning combination of fresh air, ca...

Oct 2023
palmetto bluff builders

Architecture & Design / The Palmetto Bluff Builders Design Process

Behind the Design with Jason Kimes & Leighann Markalunas In the heart of the Lowcountry, where the gentle sway of Spanish moss-laden trees meets the tranquil embrace of the coast, lies a unique community: Palmetto Bluff. Their approach to home design capt...

Sep 2023

Food & Wine / Fall Recipes From Buffalos

Your Pine-ness Cocktail Recipe Before delving into the ingredients and recipe for Buffalos’ delectable Ricotta Meatballs and Sauce, it is imperative that the chef has an excellent cocktail for cooking. Pairing the sweetness of pineapple with the woody flavo...

Sep 2023
LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us